Biblical Ethics Rae, Ch. 2

Ethics in the New Testament The Old Testament system was a theocracy. In the New Testament, the situation has changed. –Not a theocracy. The church exists within society – it is not the society itself. –The civil law is not the same as the “laws” of the church. –Not as much emphasis on moral living for society as on morality for the church.

Since we no longer live in a theocracy, the way we demonstrate God’s ways to people is different. – No longer as a nation, but within different societies. –The NT has a very strong interest in how we live within and influence society – but God’s ways are not law for society as a whole.

NT ethics is dominated by a deontological approach. –Emphasized principles (or character, or intentions) are inherently right or wrong. Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5-7). –Focuses on correct application of the principles of the law. –Aimed at accurately applying the law combined with compassion for people.

Paul also emphasized principles. –Sanctification – what does it mean to be holy? –Unity of the body of Christ (1 Cor 1-4) –Sexual purity (1 Cor 5-6) –Not causing others to stumble (1 Cor 8-10) Ethics follows from what membership in the kingdom demands. –Sermon on the Mount – this is what a disciple looks like.

Ethic of Virtue –The ideal person will model Christ. –Imitatio christi – imitation of Christ Ethic of love –Love you neighbor as yourself. (Lk 10:25-37) –Love fulfills the Law. (Rom 13:8f; Gal 5:14) –Special concern for the needy (1 John 3:16-17)

Divine Command Theory The ultimate foundation for morality is the revealed will of God – commands of God. Plato’s dilemma: does God (or the gods) command things because they are good, or are things good because God commands them? (see Rae, 47) For Christians, God is consistent with his character and commands things because they are good. –This means that morality is grounded in the character of God (not his commands).

Problems with Divine Command Ethics –Some question that this makes morality independent of God (calling God good presupposes a prior notion of goodness). –How are apparent conflicts between two commands in scripture resolved? –Saving life vs truthfulness? Corrie ten Boom hiding Jews from the Nazis in WW II Rahab and the spies.

Three way to resolve such conflicts. 1) Maintain there is no conflict. 2) Moral dilemmas and conflicts exist because of sin, not because of God’s character or commands – we have the duty to do the lesser evil, but it is still sin (forgiveness is available). 3) Moral dilemmas and conflicts exist because of sin not because of God’s character – the choice is not to do the lesser evil, but to do the greater good and we are not guilty of sin for doing what could not be avoided.

The third perspective says there is a hierarchy within God’s commands. –The “greatest commandments” (Mt. 22:34-40) –The “weightier matters of the law” (Mt. 23:23) –Greater importance of justice, mercy, compassion –Greater importance of preaching the Gospel over submission to the state (Acts 4).